Reprojecting ball bumper



Jan- 17, 1967 H.o. BERNINGER ETAL 3,298,691

REPROJECTING BALL BUMPER Filed Nov. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet lREPROJECTING BALL BUMPER Filed Nov. 14, 1965 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS-A/Paw d. 55mm/ effi J5 /m/ L. ,SE/ pew United States Patent 3,298,691REPROJECTING BALL BUMPER Harold 0. Berninger and Herman L. Seiden,Chlcagp, Ill., assignors to Lion Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 323,660 4Claims. (Cl. 273-129) The invention pertains to improvements inball-deflecting devices used in ball rolling games, commonly calledbumpers, and particularly to the movable types which are power-driven toimpart a blow to a ball under certain conditions responsive to ballaction or player-controlled means.

The presently disclosed improvements provide a new actuating mechanismand circuit therefor adapted to use with a known type of bumper which isin the form of a cantilever arm pivoted at its supporting end so as toswing in a horizontal plane and impart a blow to a ball impingingthereagainst in the course of play, together with improvements in theconstruction of the bumper members to simplify assembly, servicing, andreplacement of the cantilever bumper arm and associated parts.

Other and more detailed aspects of novelty and utility pertain todetails of the preferred embodiment described hereinafter in view of theannexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the bumper and actuating mechanism mountedon a sectionalized fragment of a ball-rolling board;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the actuating mechanism and control switch;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of the cantilever bumper assembly andpivot shaft;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional detail of the bumper body taken along lines4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a ball-rolling playfieldshowing two of the bumpers and appertaining control switches;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram.

Referring to FIG. 1, one of the novel bumpers is shown mounted on aball-rolling board or playfield 10, the principal body portion 11 beingin the form of a somewhat narrow and elongated plastic shell having aclosed and rounded dome portion 12 beneath which is a rubber or likeresilient rebound band 13, the foot portion of the body or shell beingspaced, as at 14, slightly above the playeld for clearance so that thebumper may swing about an axis Z-Z.

As viewed in FIG. 3, the bumper body comprises a molded shell having anopen bottom communicating into a hollow interior cavity in which are twopost portions 17, 18 both having a bore, the bore of post 17 beingadapted to receive a screw 19 and the post 18 being adapted to receivethe reduced end 21 of a spindle 2@ having a metal support and closureplate 22 fixed thereon and of a shape to t into the bottom opening ofthe bumper shell.

The spindle plate 22 enters the body cavity to a depth determined bythree lands 23A, -B, -C, formed by molded projections from the innerwall surface, FIG. 4, also. Snap-action means for releasably retainingthe spindle plate in the cavity, and in firm connection therewith,comprises a set of narrow, shallow ribs 25 closely adjacent the rim orlipof the shell, such that the periphered margins of the spindle platemay be forced therepast and seated on said lands, the relatively thinplastic walls affording suicient yieldability to eifect a snap-in andsnap-out action for said spindle plate. The screw 19 further secures thesnap-in assembly against the fairly severe forces occasioned by impactof steel playing balls against the cantilever suspended assembly as itis depicted in FIG. l.

3,298,691 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 ICC Mounting of the bumpers on theplayeld, FIG. l, is effected by means of a bushing 26 set in the boardand seating the spindle 20, which is secured on the underside of theboard by means of a collar 27 provided with suitable set screws 28 (FIG.2 also).

Means for actuating the bumper in a swinging motion about the axis Z-Zcomprises (FIG. 2) a bell-crank type Iof lever 30 secured to the collar27 and therefore rotatable with the bumper spindle through a rangedetermined by a stop cleat 31 fixed on a mounting plate 32 adapted to besecured by screws to the underside of the playboard.

Pivotally connected, as at 33, to the bell-crank is the end of asolenoid plunger 34 adapted to be attracted against the action of arestoring spring 35 into the bore of a solenoid 36 having a specialwinding to be eX- plained.

Carried on said mounting plate 32 is a leaf switch 37 having normallyclosed blade contacts 38, 39, the end of the latter projecting into thepath of a stud 40 on the bell-crank lever such that when the lever isswung from the normal position shown in FIG. 2 to the dotted-lineposition, the switch blades will be separated to the opencircuitcondition, and this movement of the bell-crank by the solenoid willpivot the bumper spindle about axis Z-Z and swing the cantilever bumperinto the dottedline position seen in FIG. 5.

In one of the playing or game arrangements possible with the novelbumper, such -as illustrated in FIG. 5, the normal position of thecantilever arm may be chosen to lbe such that a ball B following a pathdesignated by arrows a will roll along the length of the bumper and intoa ball eXit at 42.

But if the actuating means or solenoid is energized at the right instantwhile this ball is travelling against or near the free end of the bumper11A so that the latter swings abruptly into dotted-line position, theball may be reprojected and caused to follow any of several new coursessuch as b designated by the arrow b, c, depending upon where the ballhappens to be at the instant the bumper begins its reprojectingmovement.

The skill and amusement aspect of the game are thus eX- panded byproviding a plurality of the novel bumper units and manual controlswitches operated by the player at Will to determine new and variedpossibilities for reprojections of the ball.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5 two of the been provided at thelower end of the usual inclined ballrolling board, together withseparate control switches 45A, 45B, situated in the sidewalls -of thegame for lactuation respective-ly by push-buttons 46A, 46B by the rightand left hands of the player.

The two bumper control switches 45A, 45B are connected in a controlcircuit such as depicted in FIG. 6 and adapted to connect powerrespectively to the special solenoid windings for each bumper.

The solenoids indicated generally at 36 in FIGS. l and 2 are especiallywound to have split or dual windings, such as portrayed at 50A, 50B, or51A, 51B, respectively, in FIG. 6, these dual windings for each solenoidbeing connected in series at their respective joint terminals 52A and52B, and the two solenoid winding units likewise being connected inseries at their terminals 53A, 53B.

The power source shown may be the secondary 47 of a transformer, `oneterminal 48 of which connects with the joint terminals 53A, 53B, and theremaining terminal 49 of which transformer winding connects viaconductors 55, 56A, 56B through the normally open manual controlswitches 45A and 45B to one contact 38A and 38B `of the two bumperwinding control switches 37A, 37B, the said conductors 56A, 56B alsorespectively connecting to terminals 57A, 57B of the respective solenoidhigh-resistance windings, whereas the respective remaining contacts 39A,39B of the winding control switch each connect via conductors 58A, 58Bto the yseries connected winding terminals 52A, 52B.

Thus, each winding control switch 37A or 37B normally shunts out theappertaining low-current or high-resistance winding, so that the voltageapplied by closure of either manual switch 45A, 45B will energize thehighcurrent (low resistance) winding so as t pull in the solenoidplunger positively and with considerable energy and swing or ilip theappertaining bumper smartly to give the ball a very substantialreprojecting blow.

However, as the bumper moves into full stroke position, the bell-crankwill press the corresponding switchoperating stud against thecorresp-onding switch blade 39A or 39B and open such switch to removethe short-circuit from the corresponding higher-resistance winding andthereby cut the latter into the circuit to drop the current to a safelevel sufficient to hold the solenoid plunger reliably in attractedposition, without over-heating the solenoid winding in case the playerdesires to hold the control button down for any length of time, as it isintended he may do.

It will be understood that one or both of the bumpers shown in FIG. 5may be held indefinitely in the operated or dotted-line position byholding the appertaining manual control switch closed; and the playermay do this in anticipation of a played ball rolling down against theheld bumper which will trap or stop the ball and permit the player tohold the same indefinitely until the player does one of two things:either releases the bumper to free the trapped ball, or momentarilyreleases the bumper to permit the ball to 4gravitate `slightly towardthe free end of the bumper, and then quickly closes the control switchagain to flip the ball back onto the field in a `direction which will belargely determined by how far the player permits the momentarilyreleased ball to move, during its temporary freedom before the controlswitch is reclosed, it being possible by skillful judgment and timing toprocure a variety of reprojection patterns or trajectories by the sortof manipulation described, and thereby to enhance the playing action asto amusement, exercise of skill, and variations in scoring results.

We claim: Y

1. A reprojecting type ball bumper including a movable bumper memberadapted to be engaged by a ball and to be moved to strike a ball,electromagnetic means energizable to move said member and having anenergizing winding including a low current section and a high currentsection, and switch means connecting in a power circuit with saidwinding and effective in a first condition to render said high currentwinding section etfectve for energization to actuate the bumper memberfrom a rst condition to a second condition in ball-striking action, andme-ans operable responsive to movement changing the bumper member fromthe first to the second condition to actuate said switch means to asecond condition in which the low current section of said winding isconditioned for |low current operation, said movable bumper member being`arranged and constructed to be held in the second condition by `saidwinding energized in said low current condition, `and means operative torestore said movable bumper member and switch means to said iirstcondition when said winding is in a deenergized condition.

2. In a ball bumper for use as a ball projector and deector on aball-rolling field, a solenoid actuator including a plunger and coilmeans therefor having a winding with a high resistance and a lowresistance section; a bumper spindle and means mounting the same toextend onto said field and in operative association with said solenoidplunger; means drivingly interconnecting said plunger and spindle forrotative movement of the latter :responsive to energization of at leastthe low-resistance section of said winding; a bumper body carried bysaid spindle rigidly thereon to extend in a radial sense therefrom onsaid field for rotative moti-on with the spindle to strike a ball or beengaged by a ball; spring means acting to restore said plunger to anormal unattracted position and dispose said spindle and bumper body ina predetermined normal angular position; said low-resistance section ofthe winding being adequate at a predetermined operating voltage toattract said plunger forcibly to an operated condition and swing thebumper body briskly in ball-reprojecting action; and said 1highresistance section being adequate at said voltage to hold the plungerand bumper body in said operated condition indenitely to act as adellector at a wattage rating selected to prevent damage fromoverheating.

3. The construction of claim 2 further characterized by the provision ofcircuit control means for use with said winding including anormally-closed switch and means coacting with said plunger and `spindlemeans Vto actuate said switch to open-circuit condition on movement ofthe plunger substantially into said operated condition, said switchhaving connection with said sections of said Winding in a manner whenclosed to short-circuit said highresistance section in relation to powerterminals connecting said winding sections in series with a source ofsaid operating voltage.

4. For use in amusement apparatus, a ball impact device comprising abody member adapted for ball contact,

means for movably mounting said body on a ball rolling eld, a spindleconnecting with said body for moving the same; actuating means for saiddevice comprising a solenoid, a plunger attracted by the solenoid from anormal position, restorative spring means urging the plunger into saidnormal position, and means drivingly interconnecting the plunger andspindle f-or reverse rotative movement of the latter responsive toattractive and restorative actions, respectively, of the solenoid andspring means, said solenoid having a winding with a high currentconfiguration energizable to attract the plunger from normal positionand move the spindle and bumper with substantial energy, and :alow-current configuration energizable to maintain said plunger in itsattracted condition over long periods with acceptable heating effects,and switch means adapted for connection in a power circuit for saidwinding and actuated by means movable in step with said spindle andbumper from normal position a predetermined amount to connect the lowcurrent conguration in said power circuit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,691 3/ 1892Meern 273--129 825,890 7/ 1906 Bristow 273-129 2,520,283 8/1950 Koci273-129 2,692,353 10/1954 Mason et al S17-123.1 2,719,061 9/ 1955 Beatty287--20 2,871,417 1/1959 Connoy B17- 123.1 2,917,866 12/1959 'Ullman46-111 X FOREIGN PATENTS 226,797 2/ 1960 Australia.

1,199,119 6/1959 France.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner,

DELBERT B. LOWE, L. I. BOVASSO,

Assistant Examiners.

1. A REPROJECTING TYPE BALL BUMPER INCLUDING A MOVABLE BUMPER MEMBERADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A BALL AND TO BE MOVED TO STRIKE A BALL,ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS ENERGIZABLE TO MOVE SAID MEMBER AND HAVING ANENERGIZING WINDING INCLUDING A LOW CURRENT SECTION AND A HIGH CURRENTSECTION, AND SWITCH MEANS CONNECTING IN A POWER CIRCUIT WITH SAIDWINDING AND EFFECTIVE IN A FIRST CONDITION TO RENDER SAID HIGH CURRENTWINDING SECTION EFFECTIVE FOR ENERGIZATION TO ACUATE THE BUMPER MEMBERFROM A FIRST CONDITION TO A SECOND CONDITION IN BALL-STRIKING ACTION,AND MEANS OPERABLE RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT CHANGING THE BUMPER MEMBERFROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND CONDITION TO ACTUATE SAID SWITCH MEANS TO ASECOND CONDITION IN WHICH THE LOW CURRENT SECTION OF SAID WINDING ISCONDITIONED FOR